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'365 Days' Chronicles Pitt Successes

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

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Chronicling a year of major achievements and milestones, "365 Days: University of Pittsburgh Annual Report" is now online.

“Pitt’s 2016-17 academic year is filled with milestones that directly showcase the brilliance and diligence of our faculty, staff, students and alumni,” said Chancellor Patrick Gallagher. “These successes helped define Pitt as a vital community anchor, research leader and economic engine — roles that we are honored to embrace and will continue to grow.”

The annual report aligns with "The Plan for Pitt: Making a Difference Together," a series of strategic goals that focus the University’s mission through 2020. Each achievement noted in the annual report is representative of at least one of Pitt’s six strategic goals:

Advance Educational Excellence

Engage in Research of Impact

Strengthen Communities

Promote Diversity and Inclusion

Embrace the World

Build Foundational Strength

Among the highlights of the last academic year, which ended June 30, 2017, was the establishment of the School of Computing and Information, Pitt’s first new school in more than 20 years. Pitt faculty members and students acquired more than 90 patents and drew in more than $764.5 million in external research support. Additionally, the University’s annual economic contribution to the commonwealth continued its steady growth — now calculated to be $3.95 billion — and the state saw a $26 return on every $1 it invests in Pitt.

Beyond institutional facts and figures, this annual report provides a month-by-month summary of success stories of people from throughout the Pitt community, including the following:

Alumnus Samir Lakhani (A&S ’15), who was named a 2017 CNN Hero for his work in preventing illness and disease in Cambodia.

School of Social Work Dean Larry E. Davis, who was awarded the Significant Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Education Award by the Council on Social Work Education.

Faculty member Kirk Erickson, who was awarded a major grant to spearhead clinical trials studying the link between exercise and brain health.

Former U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton, who joined Pitt’s staff as the founding director of the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security.

English Professor Lynn Emanuel, who received the 2016 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize from the Academy of American Poets.

Margaret Farrell, who was one of 20 national winners nationwide of the Beinecke Scholarship, which supports education in the arts, humanities and social sciences.

David Leftwich, who was one of only 10 undergraduates in the nation awarded the 2017 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship.

These stories, and many more, are cataloged and celebrated in "365 Days: University of Pittsburgh Annual Report 2016-17."

Walid Gellad, associate professor of medicine and health policy and director of Pitt’s Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing, is using machine-learning algorithms to predict who is at risk of opioid misuse and overdose.

In a recent study, led by chair of psychology Julie Fiez, researchers taught adults “HouseFont” — a hieroglyphic-like language based on photos of homes — then scanned the language-learning areas of participants’ brains. What they found adds to a growing body of knowledge on how adults process written languages.

Props, screenplays, script notes and more — Pitt now has more than 50 years’ worth of items from George A. Romero, the filmmaker who revolutionized the horror genre, beginning with “Night of the Living Dead.” The new collection marks a growth in horror studies resources available to scholars and the public.

The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance honored Pitt with top rankings, and 2017 brought important rankings from additional national organizations.

Britt Baker has won several wrestling championships. But this spring, she expects to claim an even bigger title: doctor of dental medicine. See her interview on "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown" as the show explores eclectic corners of Pittsburgh, airing Oct. 22.

Jesse Irwin (A&S '17) wanted to start a late-night talk show at Pitt. With a student crew and film studies Assistant Professor Robert Clift's support, he made it happen in three months — and snagged an Emmy nod.